Engine speed governor



July 30, 1963 F. S. KERR ENGINE SPEED GOVERNOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 11, 1960 July 30, 1963 F. s. KERR ENGINE spasm covmzoa 2,Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1960 INVLJNTOR.

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United States Patent 3,099,254 ENGHJE SPEED GOVERNOR Fred S. Kerr, RoyalOak, Mich, assignor to Holley Carburetor Company, Van Dylre, Mich, acorporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 11, 1964), Ser. No. 21,174 15 Claims.(Cl. 123-102) The invention relates generally to engine speed governorsand refers more specifically to hydraulic means for governing the speedof an engine which hydraulic means is actuated in accordance with enginespeed by electronic speed sensing means.

In the past electronic and electro-mechanical engine speed governorshave been known. Such governors have however been relatively complicatedand expensive. In addition often such governors require electricalapparatus to be positioned directly on the engine or immediatelyadjacent thereto whereby the electrical apparatus is subject tovibrations, oil and dirt generally present in conjunction with engines.Such conditions necessitate frequent repair of the governors, theelectrical part of which is less well understood and is often improperlyperformed by the usual mechanic.

It is therefore one of the purposes of the present invention to providean engine speed governor having hydraulic control means actuated inaccordance with engine speed.

Another object is to provide hydraulic engine speed governing meansactuated in accordance with an electrical signal developed in accordancewith engine speed.

More specifically it is an object to provide hydraulic engine speedgoverning means including a hydraulic cylinder and piston, said pistonhaving a piston rod movable to govern engine speed, and means forpumping hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic cylinder to cause movementof the piston in accordance with engine speed.

Still more specifically it is an object to provide engine speedgoverning means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston, meansassociated with said piston for governing the engine speed in accordancewith the position of said piston, and means for pumping hydraulic fluidthrough the cylinder at a rate depending on the magnitude of anelectrical signal developed in accordance with engine speed to causemovement of the piston to a predetermined governing position.

Another object is to provide an engine speed governor as set forth abovewherein the means associated with the piston for governing the enginespeed in accordance with the position of the piston comprises a controlplate secured to the engine throttle valve which is spring biased tomove the throttle valve into an open position and a piston rod securedto the piston and engageable with the control plate to limit movement ofthe throttle valve toward the open position under influence of thespring.

Another object is to provide an engine speed governor as set forth abovewherein the means for pumping hydraulic fiuid through said cylindercomprises a hydraulic fluid supply reservoir, a conduit extendingbetween the reservoir and one end of the cylinder having a fluid pumpinterposed between the reservoir and cylinder and a conduit extendingbetween the reservoir and the same end of the cylinder having arestriction therein.

Another object is to provide an engine speed governor as set forth abovewherein the hydraulic pump is actuated by an electric motor, the speedof which is controlled in accordance with engine speed by electronicengine speed sensing means.

Another object is to provide an engine speed governor as set forth abovewherein the control plate comprises a substantially flat plate rigidlyfixed to one end of a rod pivotally mounting the throttle valve whichplate is pro- 3,099,254 Patented July 30, 1963 ice vided at oppositeends thereof with portions adapted to engage a manual throttle controland the piston rod respectively and which plate is biased in a directionto cause the throttle to open with both the manual throttle control andpiston rod being positioned to restrict the pivoting of the plate andtherefore the opening of the throttle valve.

Another object is to provide an engine speed governor as set forth abovewhich is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and etficient inuse.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of theinvention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly schematic and partly diagrammatic illustration ofan engine speed governor according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIGURE 1 illustrating thedetails of the throttle valve control means.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of the electronic portion of the enginespeed governor shown in FIGURE 1.

With specific reference to the figures a particular em bodiment of thepresent invention will now be disclosed.

As shown best in FIGURE 1 the invention is a governor generallyindicated 10 which is particularly adapted for use with an engine (notshown) having a throttle valve 12. The governor comprises the valvecontrol means generally indicated 14, pump means generally indicated 16,electric motor 18 and electronic engine speed sensing -eans 2a.

In accordance with the invention the electronic speed sensing means 20is operable to develop an electric signal proportional to engine speedafter the speed of the engine reaches a predetermined value. The speedof the electric motor is controlled in accordance with the electricsignal developed by the electronic means 20. The pump means 16 isactuated in accordance with the speed of the electric motor 18 toposition the valve control means 14 to limit movement of the throttlevalve 12 whereby engine speed is governed.

The electronic means 20 as indicated above is operable to develop anelectric signal in coil 22 which is proportional to engine speed afterthe engine has reached a predetermined speed. A detail description ofthe electronic means 20 is fully set forth in copen-ding applicationeri-al No. 764,144, new Patent No. 3,049,110, and therefore will beconsidered herein only to the extent necessary to the disclosure of thepresent invention.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the distributor 24 of the engine which it isdesired to govern is provided with a rotating member 26 having angularlyspaced recesses 28 around the circumference thereof which is secured tothe distributor shaft 30 for rotation therewith. A magnetic pick-upprobe 32 is positioned adjacent member 26 and is operable to produce analternating current, the magnitude of which is proportional to the speedof rotation of the member 26. The alternating current developed by theprobe 32 is rectified and after reaching a predetermined value isamplified by electronic means generally indicated 34. The direct currentelectric signal thus produced is a function of engine speed and is fedthrough coil 22 in electric motor 18 to produce regulation of the speedof the motor 18 in accordance with engine speed after the engine speedhas reached a predetermined value. The battery 36 is operable inconjunction With the electronic means 34 to produce the requilredelectric signal which is proportional to engine spee The electronicmeans 34 for rectifying and amplifying the signal produced by probe 32after it has reached a predetermined value is shown in more detail inFIGURE 3. As shown in FIGURE 3 electronic means 34 includes rectifier 38for rectifying the alternating signal produced by probe 32, Zener diode40 for preventing amplification of the rectified signal until the signalreaches a predetermined value, and a three-stage transis-torizedamplifier generally indicated 42 operable in conjunction with battery 36to amplify the rectified signal which is proportional to engine speedand pass the amplified signal through the coil 22 of electric motor 18.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the output shaft 44 of the electric motor 18 isconnected in driving relation to the hydraulic fluid pump 46 of the pumpmeans 16. The electric motor 18 is constructed to produce an outputspeed of shaft 44 proportional to the electric signal in coil 22. Sinceseveral means by which this may be accomplished are well known in theart the details of the electric motor 18 will not be included herein.

Pumping means 16 comprises the hydraulic cylinder 48, piston 50positioned for reciprocation within the cylindcr 48 and biased towardthe end 52 of the cylinder 48 by the spring 54 acting between the end 56of the cylinder 48 and the piston 50. Pumping means 16 further includesa hydraulic fluid reservoir 58, hydraulic fluid pump 46 and threehydraulic fluid conduits 60, 62 and 64.

Hydraulic fluid conduit 62 extends between the reservoir 58 and thecylinder 48. Hydraulic pump 46 is located in hydraulic fluid conduit 62and is operable to pump hydraulic fluid from reservoir 58 into cylinder48.

Hydraulic fluid conduit 60 also extends between end 52 of cylinder 48and reservoir 58. The conduit 60 has a restriction 66 therein such thatfluid pumped into cylinder 48 will create a fluid pressure on surface 68of piston 50 to force piston 50 to the right in FIGURE *1 in oppositionto the bias of spring 54. The piston 50 is however allowed to move tothe left as shown in FIG- URE 1 due to the bias of spring 54 when thespeed of the pump 46 is lowered due to the passing of hydraulic fluidpumped into the cylinder 48 through restriction 66 and conduit 60 backto reservoir 58.

Conduit 64 extends between the reservoir 58 and the end 56 of thecylinder 48. Conduit 64 is provided to permit hydraulic fluid which mayleak into the end 56 of the cylinder to return to the reservoir 58 aswill be understood by those in the art.

Thus in operation the pump 46 is driven at a speed proportional to thespeed of the electric motor 18 to create a fluid pressure in cylinder 48on surface 68 of piston 50 to move the piston 50 to a predeterminedposition in opposition to the bias of spring 54 due to the restriction66 in the return conduit 60. The position of the piston 50 is determinedby the speed of operation of the pump 46. When the operating speed ofthe pump 46 raises or lowers, the piston 50 is thus caused to move tothe right or left respectively in FIGURE 1.

The valve control means 14 as shown best in FIGURE 2 comprises a controlplate 70 secured to one end of a rotatable rod 72 mounting throttlevalve 12 in the intake passage 74 of the engine to be governed. Thevalve control means further includes the manual throttle control meansgenerally indicated 76, the piston rod 78 secured to piston 50 andspring bias means 80.

As illustrated the control plate 70 includes a portion 82 at one endthereof engageable with the hooked end 84 of the piston rod 78 and theportion 86 at the other end thereof engageable with the hooked end 88 ofthe rod 90 of the manual throttle control means 76. The control plate isbiased for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2by a spring means 80 connected between a fixed abutment 92 and thecontrol plate 70 as shown.

In operation the rod 90 of the manual throttle control 76 may be movedto the right in FIGURE 2 in opposition to spring 94 acting betweenabutments 96 and 98 by means of pressure on the end 10% thereof which,for example, may be applied by foot pedal 1112. Without the piston rod78 the control plate 70 would be allowed to rotate counterclockwise onmovement of the rod 91) to the right whereby the throttle valve 12 wouldbe opened and the speed of the engine increased. The opening of thethrottle valve 12 and thus the speed of the engine may be limited to apredetermined value however by positioning of the piston rod 78 whichengages the control plate 82 in a predetermined position thereof toprevent further opening of the throttle valve 12.

Thus in over-all operation of the engine speed governor disclosed as therod of the manual throttle control 76 is moved to the right the throttlevalve 12 will be opened due to bias of the spring 88 and the engineassociated therewith will pick up speed.

The speed of the engine is sensed by the magnetic pick-up probe inconjunction with the rotation of member 26 secured to the distributorshaft 30 which rotation is at a speed proportional to engine speed. Thesignal developed by the probe 32 which is proportional to engine speedis rectified and amplified by electronic means 34 on the engine speedreaching a predetermined value. The rectified and amplified electricsignal proportional to engine speed is then passed through coil 22 toregulate the speed of the electric motor '18.

Thus the pump 46 may be caused to operate at an engine speed above apredetermined engine speed. Further since the position of the piston 50depends upon the speed of operation of the pump 46 the position of thecontrol plate 70 at which contact is made thereby with the end 84 ofpiston rod 7 8 will also be determined by the speed of the pump 46.

Thus is the operation of the engine an equilibrium will be establishedbetween engine speed as determined by the position of the throttle valve12 and the position of the piston rod 78 which is a function of theengine speed since the pump 46 controls the position of the piston 50and the speed of the pump 46 is proportional to the speed of the motor18 which is determined by the electric signal passing through coil 22developed in accordance with engine speed.

By proper varying of the amplification of the signals fed to theelectric motor 18 the position of the throttle valve when the controlplate engages the end 84 of rod 78 may be varied to correspond to theengine speed at which it is desired to govern the engine.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved engine speed governor in such full, clear, concise andexact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice theinvention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An engine speed governor comprising hydraulic control meansassociated with the engine operable on actuation to limit the speed ofthe engine in accordance with the degree of actuation of the hydrauliccontrol means, said hydraulic control means including a hydrauliccylinder, a piston movable within said cylinder, valve control meansassociated with said piston for limiting the speed of the engine inaccordance with the position of said piston in said cylinder and pumpmeans for positioning said piston in said cylinder in accordance withthe speed of operation thereof, said governor further comprisingelectronic means associated with said pump means and sensitive to enginespeed operable to actuate said pump means at a speed proportional toengine speed.

2. Structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the engine includes a movablethrottle valve and said valve control means comprises a control platesecured to the throttle valve for movement therewith, spring meansbiasing the control plate in a direction to open the throttle valve, anda piston rod secured to said piston for movement therewith positioned toengage said control plate to limit movemerit thereof due to said springmeans in accordance with the position of said piston.

3. Structure as claimed in-claim 1 wherein said pump means includes ahydraulic fluid reservoir, a first fluid conduit extending between saidfluid reservoir and one end of said cylinder, a second fluid conduithaving a restriction therein extending between said one end of saidcylinder and said reservoir, a hydraulic fluid pump operable to pumphydraulic fluid to said cylinder through said first conduit andresilient means within said cylinder operable to urge the piston towardone end of the cylinder.

4. An engine speed governor comprising hydraulic control meansassociated with the engine operable on actuation tolimit the speed ofthe engine in accordance with the degree of actuation of the hydrauliccontrol means, said hydraulic control means including a hydrauliccylinder, a piston movable within said cylinder, valve control meansassociated with said piston for limiting the speed of the engine inaccordance with the position of said piston in said cylinder and pumpmeans for positioning said piston in said cylinder in accordance withthe speed of said engine, said governor further comprising electronicmeans including an electric motor operable to actuate said pump means ata speed proportional to the magnitude of a signal developed inaccordance with engine speed, and electronic means for developing asignal the magnitude of which is variable in accordance with enginespeed after a predetermined speed is attained by the engine.

5. An engine speed governor for an engine having a speed control membermovable to regulate the speed of the engine, comprising electronic meansoperable to develop an electric signal proportional to the speed of theengine, an electric motor operably associated with said electronicmeans, the speed of which is controlled in accordance with said electricsignal, control mean-s including a governing member positionable tolimit movement of said speed control member, and hydraulic meansincluding a pump connected to said motor intermediate said electricmotor and control means operable to position said governing member inaccordance with the speed of the electric motor.

6. An engine speed governor for an engine having a speed control membermovable to regulate the speed of the engine, comprising electronic meansoperable to develop an electric signal proportional to the speed of theengine, an electric motor operably associated with said electronicmeans, the speed of which is controlled in accordance with said electricsignal, control means including a governing member positionable to limitmovement of said speed control member in a direction whereby enginespeed in increased, and hydraulic means including a pump connected tosaid motor intermediate said electric motor and control means operableto position said governing member in accordance with the speed of theelectric motor.

7. An engine speed governor for an engine having a throttle valveoperable to regulate the speed of the engine comprising, electronicmeans operable to develop an electric signal proportional to the speedof the engine above a predetermined speed, an electric motor operablyassociated with said electronic means, the speed of which is controlledin accordance with said electric signal, valve control means including amember positionable to limit movement of said throttle valve in an opendirection, and pump means intermediate said electric motor and valvecontrol means operable to position said member in accordance with thespeed of the electric motor.

8. An engine speed governor for an engine having a throttle valveoperable to regulate the speed of the engine comprising, electronicmeans operable to develop an electric signal proportional to the speedof the engine above a predetermined speed, an electric motor operablyassociated with said electronic means, the speed of which is controlledin accordance with said electric signal, valve control means including apiston rod positionable to limit movement of said throttle valve in anopen direction, and hydraulic means including a pump connected to saidmotor intermediate said electric motor and valve control means, saidpump means comprising a hydraulic cylinder, a piston reciprocal thereinto which said piston rod is attached, and means for positioning saidpiston in said cylinder in accordance with the speed of the electricmotor.

9. An engine speed governor for an engine having a throttle valveoperable to regulate the speed of the engine comprising, electronicmeans operable to develop an electric signal proportional to the speedof the engine above a predetermined speed, an electric motor operablyassociated with said electronic means, the speed of which is controlledin accordance with said electric signal, valve control means including apiston rod positionable to limit movement of said throttlevalve in anopen direc tion, and hydraulic means intermediate said electric motorand valve control means, said hydraulic means comprising a hydrauliccylinder, a piston reciprocable therein to which said piston rod isattached, and means for positioning said piston in said cylinder inaccordance with the speed of the electric motor, said means forpositioning said piston including resilient means biasing said pistontoward one end of said cylinder, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a pair offluid conduits extending between said one end of said cylinder and thereservoir, one of said fluid conduits having a restriction therein, anda hydraulic fluid pump in the other of said conduits for pumping fluidinto said cylinder, the speed of operation of the fluid pump beingcontrolled by the electric motor.

10. Structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein said throttle valve ismounted on a rod and is movable on rotation of said rod into open andclosed positions and said valve control means also includes a controlplate secured to said rod for rotation therewith, means biasing saidcontrol plate in a direction to open said throttle valve, and manuallyoperated throttle valve control means engageable with said control plateto limit rotation thereof in a direction to open the throttle valve,said piston rod also engaging said control plate to limit rotation ofsaid throttle valve in governing the speed of the engine.

11. An engine speed governor comprising hydraulic control meansassociated with the engine operable on actuation to limit the speed ofthe engine in accordance with the degree of actuation of the hydrauliccontrol means, pump means for actuating said hydraulic control means inaccordance with the speed of operation thereof, and electronic meansconnected in driving relation with said p ump means and sensitive toengine speed for actuating said pump means at a speed proportional toengine speed.

12. An engine speed governor comprising hydraulic control meansassociated with the engine operable on actuation to limit the speed ofthe engine in accordance with the degree of actuation of the hydrauliccontrol means, pump means for actuating said hydraulic control means inaccordance with the speed of operation thereof, and electronic meansconnected in driving relation with said pump means and sensitive toengine speed for actuating said pump means at a speed proportional toengine speed only after a predetermined engine speed is attained by saidengine.

13. An engine speed governor comprising hydraulic control meansassociated with the engine operable on actuation to limit the speed ofthe engine in accordance with the degree of actuation of the hydrauliccontrol means, pump means for actuating said hydraulic control means inaccordance with the speed of operation thereof, and means associatedwith said pump means and sensitive to engine speed operable only after apredetermined engine speed to actuate said pump means at a speedproportional to engine speed.

14. A governor comprising control means operable on actuation to limitthe speed to be governed in accordance with the degree of actuationthereof, pump means for actuating said control means in accordance withthe speed of operation of the pump means, and means associated with thepump means and sensitive to the speed to be governed operable only aftera predetermined speed to be governed to actuate the pump means at aspeed proportional to the speed to be governed.

15. A governor comprising a speed control member movable to regulatespeed, means operable'to develop a signal proportional to the speed tobe regulated, a variable speed motor operably associated with saidsignal developing means the speed of which is controlled in accordancewith said signal, control means including a governing memberpositionable to limit movement of said speed control member, and meansconnected to said motor intermediate said motor and control meansoperable to position said governing member in accordance with the speedof the motor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,358,812 Anderson Nov. 16, 1920 2,357,055 Mydans Aug. 29, 19442,361,206 Hoppe Oct. 24, 1944 2,527,353 Christian Oct. 24, 19502,835,237 Thorner May 20, 1958 2,911,077 Carter Nov. 3, 1959 FOREIGNPATENTS 430,463 France Aug. 11, 1911

9. AN ENGINE SPEED GOVERNOR FOR AN ENGINE HAVING A THROTTLE VALVEOPERABLE TO REGULATE THE SPEED OF THE ENGINE COMPRISING, ELECTRONICMEANS OPERABLE TO DEVELOP AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE SPEEDOF THE ENGINE ABOVE A PREDETERMINED SPEED, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR OPERABLYASSOCIATED WITH SAID ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE SPEED OF WHICH IS CONTROLLEDIN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID ELECTRIC SIGNAL, VALVE CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING APISTON ROD POSITIONABLE TO LIMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID THROTTLE VALVE IN ANOPEN DIRECTION, AND HYDRAULIC MEANS INTERMEDIATE SAID ELECTRIC MOTOR ANDVALVE CONTROL MEANS, SAID HYDRAULIC MEANS COMPRISING A HYDRAULICCYLINDER, A PISTON RECIPROCABLE THEREIN TO WHICH SAID PISTON ROD ISATTACHED, AND MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID PISTON IN SAID CYLINDER INACCORDANCE WITH THE SPEED OF THE ELECTRIC MOTOR, SAID MEANS FOR POSI-AIDTIONING SAID PISTON INCLUDING RESILIENT MEANS BIASING SAID PISTON TOWARDONE END OF SAID CYLINDER, A HYDRAULIC FLUID RESERVOIR, A PAIR OF FLUIDCONDUITS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER AND THERESERVOIR, ONE OF SAID FLUID CONDUITS HAVING A RESTRICTION THEREIN, ANDA HYDRAULIC FLUID PUMP IN THE OTHER OF SAID CONDUITS FOR PUMPING FLUID